[JURIST] Former Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu [personal website; JURIST news archive] was sentenced to 6 months in prison Monday after being convicted [JURIST report] of violating the terms of his parole by granting interviews to foreign media. Vanunu spent 18 years in an Israeli prison after being convicted of treason [Israel MOJ backgrounder] for leaking details of Israel's secret atomic weapons program to the UK press [Times report], before being released in 2004 [JURIST report]. Under the terms of the release, Vanunu was forbidden from traveling outside of Israel, and was told to have only minimal contact with foreigners. He was indicted [JURIST report] in 2005 after speaking out against nuclear proliferation with various news sources, including the BBC [BBC report].

Vanunu was also given a further six month suspended sentence, which could be ordered if he continues to talk to foreigners, particularly the foreign press, or attempts to leave Israel.Vanunu has 45 days to launch an appeal, but it is unknown if he will do so. BBC News has more.